Shoe-lace-fastening device.



S. G. NOLAN.

SHOE LACE FASTENING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED-MAY 25'.19|1..

1,265,946. Patented May 14, 1918.

INVENTOR Gil 7034070 mmy ATTORNEY SARAH G. NOLALL'OIE WASHINGTON,DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SHOE-LACFl-FASTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1918.

' Application filed Ma 25, 1917. Serial no. 170,944.

To all whom'it may concern:

: Be it known that I, SARAH G. NOLAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace-Fastening Devices, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a device for fastening theends of shoe laces, and is so designed that it serves in tlfie capacityof an ornamental buckle for the s oe.

The invention also embodies the desired features of simplicity andconstruction, which in addition to reducing the cost of manufacture andsale of the article to a minimum, permits of the device to beconveniently handled when associating the same with the shoe lace orremoving the same therefrom.

The nature and advantage of the invention will be better understood whenthe following detail description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, the invention residing in the construction andarrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawing forming part of this specification like numerals ofreference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure1 is a perspective view of a shoe showing the device forming the subjectmatter of my invention in use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view of the fastening showing one end ofthe lace secured thereto, and the other end of the lace in a position toenter the slot.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the fastening.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in detail, the fasteningwhich is indicated generally at 10 may be constructed from any suitablematerial, and size without departing from the spirit of the invention.As shown the device embodies a ring-like member, which by preference issubstantially U-shaped in cross section, thus affording the upper sideof the ring a curved or rounded surface 11 to permit the lace to bereadily moved thereover, and to eliminate undue wear on the lace. Thering is integrally pro vided with a diametrically disposed bar 12, whileprojecting from the opposite sides thereof are alined laterally disposedprongs 13 which lie in the plane of the bar 12, the prongs being pointedat their extremities as shown. The ring at each side of the bar 12 isprovided with a radially disposed slot 1 1, these slots being alsodisposed at one side of the prongs 13 and arranged in convergentrelation. The confronting walls of each slot at their inner and outerends are rounded V as at 15 to facilitate the insertion of the lacewithin the slot, or its removal therefrom, and to prevent undue wear ofthe lace as will be readily understood.

In practice, the shoe is laced in the ordinary well known manner, andlust prior to the tying of the bow, one extremity of the lace is passedthrough one of the slots 14, and over the bar 12 in a manner whereby theadjacent prong 13 will penetrate the lace, this arrangement beingclearly shown in Fig. 2. As shown in this figure the other extremity ofthe lace passes through the other slot 1 1 and around the bar 12 so thatthe remaining prong 13 penetrates the lace,

and in this manner the ends of the laces are properly secured. Thefastening is arranged in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and servesin the capacity of an ornamental buckle. for the shoe. By reason of thisfact it is to be understood that the device can vary in shape Orconfiguration, and need not necessarily be of ring-like formation ashereinabove stated. When it is desired to remove the shoe, theextremities of the laces are removed from their respective prongs 13,and subsequently passed through the slots 14 as will be readilyunderstood. It will be noted that the separated portion 16 of the ringprovided by the slots 14:, together with the bar 12 can yield to permitthe device in its entirety to; accommodate itself to the shoe under allconditions, should the fastenin in its entirety be constructed fromresilient material.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent, but I desire tohave it understood that What is herein shown and described is merelyillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention to which I donot limit myself, and that such changes may be resorted to when desiredas fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is 1. A combined ornamental shoe buckle and lacefastening device embodying a member having an open center, and aplurality of slots opening at the edge of the member and within thecenter, a bar extending across the center and disposed Within the planeof said member, and means carried by the bar for securing the ends ofthe lace thereto, when said ends have been arranged Within the center ofsaid member.

2. A device of the class described comprising a ring-like member havinga plurality of radially disposed slots, a bar extending across thecenter of said ring and lying in the plane therewith and pointed prongsprojecting from the opposite sides of the bar for the purpose specified.

3. A combined ornamental shoe buckle and lace fastening device embodyinga member having an open center, and a plurality of radially disposedslots to permit the ends of the lace to be moved within the center ofsaid member, and means fixed within said center for securing the ends ofthe lace thereto.

t. A device of the class described comprising a member haying an opencenter, a cross bar projecting from said member and arranged Within thecenter a segment carried by the cross bar and disposed in the same planewith said member, said segment having its opposite ends slightly spacedfrom the member thereby forming slots through which the ends of the laceare passed to said center, and means on said bar to engage the ends ofthe lace for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

ARAH G. NOLAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

